Can-filling machine



(No Modem 3 sheets-sheet 1.

B. I'. THOMAS.

GAN FILLING MACHINE.

No. 396,717, Patented Jan. 22, 1889.

N. PETERS. PmxLinmgnpher. wnhingmn. 9:0.

(No Model.) s sheets-sheen s. B. P. THD-MAS..

GAN FILLING MACHINE.

No. 39.6.7147. Patented 18.11.22, 1889.

BENONI F. THOMAS, OF NORTH EAST, MARYLAND.

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,717, dated January 22, 18819.

Application filed May 8, 1888. Serial No. 273,190. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENONI FA THOMAS, a citizen of the 'United States, residing at North East, in the county of Oecil and State of Marylan d, have in vented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Can-Filling Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ot' this speeiiieation.

This invention relates to machines for lilling cans with fruits, vegetables, or other materials ina semitluid condition, and has for its object a rapid and convenient performance of the work.

My invention relates more particularly to mechanism for enabling the cans to be placed under the supply-cyliiuler and withdrawn therefrom with greater rapidity than has heretofore been possible in manually-operated machines, though the invention also embodies other novel features, which will hereinafter be fully described in this specification, and then definitely indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section on a plane passing through the middle f a can, showing the latter in the position it occupies before the Afilling mechanism is op erated. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the parts of an ejector for forcing the can away from the iilling-'cyliin'ler- Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the ejector-slide. Fig. a is a detail showing the means .for operating a perforated. bottoni, through which an excess of juice may be drained oit. Fig. is a partial front view of the hopper, showing the double perforated bottoni and the crank-shaft for operating it. Fig. G is a rear elevation of my machine, parts being broken away.

On a suitable pedestal, l, are cross-beams 2 2 and vertical posts, one of which is seen in elevation at 13. In a support, 3, is pivoted a foot-lever, I, connected by'a link, 5, with a bell-crank lever, (5 7. To the arm 7 of this bell-crank lever are pivoted vertical rods, one

of which is seen in dotted lines at S. Fliese rods are secured at their upper ein cross-piece, i), which carries a plunger, lO. This plunger is normally held eleva-tod by springs, as ll, hung on a cross-beam, l2, mounted on the top of the frame. The footlever carries a link or connecting-rod, 14, which acts on a lever, l5, pivotally mounted on a support, 1.6. The end of lever l5 is connected with the rod 17,'to which is secured a support, 1S, perforated, as shown, to permit drainage of any juices which may drip upon it. This support in the operation of the niaehine is thrust into and withdrawn from an opening in table 115'), provided with raised edges, as shown. 4

In operative relation to plunger l0 is sup ported on a cmss-beain a feed-cwlinder, 20, in open communication at one s ide with a hopper, 2S. This cylinder is of such an internal diameter that the plunger l0 can slide in it, and has a Contracted discharge-openin g at its lower end. Near the mouth or dischargeopening is a Iiange, 2l, and the space between the flange and the lower edge of the discharge -tube is filled by a flexible elastic washer, 22, extended on one side, as shown, so as to overlap the ejector-slide 23. A structure of this slide and its guide is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The guide 24, which is lined to the frame, has side grooves, as shown, and recesses 39 40 at its ends. The ejectorslide has a depend ing lug or tongue, 4l, adapted to bear against the can. A spring, 25, secured to a support, 26,011 thebottom 27 of thehopperbears against the rear end of the ejector-slide. In the position shown in Fig. l, when a can is inserted, this spring is under tension and the can is held in place by the operator until he depresses the treadle 4, when the plunger descends and the can is simultaneously elevated into engagement with flange 2l, a tight joint being effectedhy the elastic iasher22. Then the foot-pressure is removed, however, the spring I3 lowers support 18, and the spring pushes the slide forward, the lng il forcing the filled can out. The spring 25 forces the can forward on the table the moment the plunger has lowered it sufficiently to clear the to aV vthe top of the table.

lower edge of the discharge-tube and before the upper face of the support 1S sinks below As the spring 25 comes forward it enters a recess, 39, in the support 24, which gives it suflicient sweep to entirely eject the can.

The hopper 2S is provided with a double false bottom,one portion, 32, of which slides upon the other, The relative positions of these bottoms .is shown. in Figs. l and 5. They are made of sheet metal, the lower one, 32%, being bent at the side edges, so as to form a guide for the upper one. The lower one is fixed to thc sides of the hopper. These bottoms are provided with perforations which maybe thrown into or outof register by shifting the upper one. This maybe done by operating a crank-shaft, 34, (see Figs. l, 4, and 5,) which carries a pin, 37, co-operating with the movable bottom and free to be reciprocated in a slot in the lower one, as shown in Fig. 5. The crank-shaft 34 is provided with a crank, 35 and handle 3G. The space between the perforated bottoms and the bottom of the hopper serves to carry off the superliuous juice, a partition, 30, and drain-pipe 3l being located at the rear end of this drip-chamber. The lower perforated bottom is, as stated, fixed to the frame. As shown, it extends forward and is attached to the feed -cylinder. The bottom and feed-.cylinder are preferablym ade of copper to resist the action of the fruitacids.

The operation of the machine will now be understood. The fruit in condition for canning is emptiedinto thehopper and feeds forward by gravity into the feed-cylinder. If its consistency is too thin, the excess of juice maybe drawn off by making the perforations in the false bottoms register the superfluous juice passing through the pipe 3l and falling upon table l0, whence it may be removed in any convenient manner. A can is placed against the tongue 4l and pushed back against the tension of spring 25 into a curved seat in the support 2i. The foot -lever 4 is then pressed down. The support lS is raised, bringing the opening in the top of the can into close engagement with the dischargeopening of the cylinder. The opening of the cylinder is made of such a size that it will it the opening in the cans. At the same time that the can-support 18 is raised the plunger l0 is brought down in the cylinder,.forcing the canning material into the can. The arms of the levers are so proportioned that the plunger and can support will be given the proper relative thrust. The foot-lever is then allowed to come up, withdrawing the plunger and lowering support 18. As soon as the can is relieved of the upward pressure of the latter the can is forced out by spring 25, when an empty can can be immediately inserted. The material in the cylinder is prevented escaping by the ejector-slide, which follows the ejected can and seals the mouth of the cylinder. This slide therefore performs the function of ejecting the filled cans and of sealing the cylinder against leakage during the renewal of cans.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a can-filler, the combination of a feed-cylinder with a hopper communicating with said cylinder,vsaid hopper being provided with a perforate bottom and means for opening and closing the perforations, whereby the consistency of the canning material can be kept uniform.

2. In a can-filler, the combination, with a feed-cylinder, of a hopper communicating with said cylinder, said hopper being' provided with a perforate bottom and an auX- iliary perforated bottom sliding on the main bottom, and an exterior handle to throw the two sets of perforations into or out of register.

3. In a can-iiller, the combination of a feed-cylinder with a hopper having perforate bottoms 32 33, means to throw the perforations into and out of register, a drip-chamber below the bottoms, and a discharge-pipe to the drip-chamber.

-i. In a can-filler, the combination of a feed-cylinder, a vertically-reciprocating cansupport, a plunger, means for bringing the plunger and can-support simultaneously toward the discharge-opening of-the feed-cylinder, a spring-actuated can-ejector, and a cover for the discharge-opening controlled thereby, whereby when the plunger is lifted the can is automatically ejected and the discharge-opening sealed.

5. In a can-filler, the combination of a feed-cylinder having a contracted end provided with a flange, with a reciprocating cansupport, an automatic cut-off to seal the discharge-orifice of the cylinder when` the can is removed, and a iiexible washer on the lower face of the iiange, said washer overlapping the cut-off when the mouth of the feed-cylinder is open.

6. In a can-filler, the combination of a feed-cylinder with a sliding plate, 23, adapted to seal the mouth of the cylinder when pushed forward, a lug on said plate to engage the can, and a spring to push the plate,`

simultaneously eject the can, and seal the cylinder, and an elastic washer around the mouth of the cylinder, said washer overlapping the plate when the mouth of the feedcylinder is open. A

7. In a can filler, the combination of a feed-cylinder with a supply-hopper in communication therewith, said hopperbeing provided with a perforate bottom and means for opening and closing the perforations, whereby the consistency of the canning ma- IOO IIO

In testimony whereof I iiiix my signature 'in presence of two Witnesses.

BENONI F. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

W. K. REoKEFoE, W. T. I-IAMMoND. 

